Police Find Potential Drug Lab In Hendersonville
(Hendersonville, NC) -- The SBI is investigating a potential drug lab inside a Hendersonville home. Police officers made the discovery yesterday while responding to a call of stolen property on Bridgette Loop Road. The fire department was placed on standby due to possible flammable objects.
Asheville Dividing COVID Funds Among Nonprofits
(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville is dividing out more than eleven-million-dollars in COVID relief funds. The city council approved a plan yesterday to award money to nearly 20 local non-profits. Two-million of that total will go towards Helpmate, which will help survivors of domestic violence. The city still has more than six-million-dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding to allocate.
Polk County Sheriff Investigating Drug Overdoses
(Polk County, NC) -- Drug overdoses are causing problems in Polk County. WLOS-TV reports emergency responders have treated ten overdoses in just under two-weeks. Three of those have resulted in deaths. Fentanyl-laced drugs have been linked with the cases.
Asheville Starbucks' Employees Rally To Unionize
(Asheville, NC) -- Employees at an Asheville Starbucks are making plans to unionize. A rally was held outside the Charlotte Street location yesterday. It hasn't been long since employees of a Starbucks in Boone voted to become part of a worker's union, marking the first such instance for the coffee shop in the Carolinas. A vote is expected today for the Asheville store.
Homelessness Rises In Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- The homeless population is increasing in Asheville. The Citizen-Times reports close to 640 people in the city were considered homeless earlier this year, which marked an increase of more than 20-percent from early 2021. More than 230 people are considered unsheltered. The National Alliance to End Homelessness is working with Asheville and Buncombe County to address the number of unsheltered people.
Area Hospitals Receive Good Grades
(Asheville, NC) -- A national watchdog group is praising several western North Carolina hospitals. The Leapfrog Group recently gave "A" grades to Mission Hospital in Asheville, Mission Hospital McDowell, AdventHealth and UNC Pardee. Ratings are based on a wide array of categories including patient care, surgeries and maternity. Haywood Regional received a "B" grade.
Popcorn Maker Bringing Jobs To Concord
(Concord, NC) -- A popcorn maker is adding jobs in Concord. The city announced yesterday that Tastebuds Popcorn is investing nearly 30-million-dollars into a new plant. Around 200 jobs are expected to be added. Concord is also attempting to move NASCAR headquarters from uptown Charlotte into the city.
CMS Asking County For Budget Funds
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County commissioners will soon consider funding for the school system. CMS leaders presented a budget request yesterday, which totals nearly 580-million-dollars from the county. The total spending plan in the school district is just above two-billion-dollars. Teachers are set to receive an average raise of two-point-seven-percent.
Husband At Large After Wife's Murder In Conover
(Conover, NC) -- The suspect in a Conover murder is on the run. Investigators say a man allegedly shot his wife to death at a home on Second Street Southwest last Thursday. He reportedly stole her car, which is a black Nissan Altima with chrome wheels. The SBI is helping in the investigation.
Charlotte Humane Society Opening New Center
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new center for the Humane Society of Charlotte is close to opening. NBC Charlotte reports a 15-million-dollar facility has been built off Wilkerson Boulevard. A grand opening is scheduled for later this month. The 26-thousand-square-foot building will feature climate-controlled areas, a medical clinic, adoption center and more.
Man Accidentally Texts Chesterfield Deputy With Drug Deal
(Chesterfield County, SC) -- A man is facing charges in Chesterfield County due to a texting snafu. WBTV reports the suspect sent a picture of marijuana and a gun to a deputy in an attempted sale on Monday. Investigators showed up at a home in Cheraw to arrest the man on charges, including possession with intent to distribute.
Union County Looking To Fill Job Openings
(Union County, NC) -- Union County is holding a job fair today. Around 50 jobs are currently open in nearly 20 different county departments. Interest applicants can come out to the Union County Farmer's Market on Skyway Drive in Monroe this afternoon.
Panthers Sign First-Round Draft Pick
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Panthers' first-round draft pick is ready to take the field. Tackle Ikem Ekwonu and Carolina reportedly came to terms this week on a four-year deal worth just under 28-million-dollars. Half of the Panthers' six rookies have signed deals. Ekwonu is from Charlotte and went on to play college ball at N.C. State.
Man Shot Multiple Times At Raleigh Gas Station Dies Of His Injuries
(Raleigh, NC) -- A man who was shot and wounded early Tuesday morning at a gas station in Raleigh, has died of his injuries. It happened around 4:15 am on New Bern Avenue near North Raleigh Boulevard. Investigators say the victim, identified as 27-year old Devonte Martin, was shot multiple times and died later at a hospital. Police are continuing to look for a male suspect who was seen running from the crime scene. So-far no arrests have been made.
Task Force Formed In Rocky Mount After 9-Year Old Boy Shot While Sleeping
(Rocky Mount, NC) -- Police in Rocky Mount are continuing to search for a suspect who fired multiple shots into a home on Proctor Street Tuesday morning, wounding a 9-year old boy who was in the bed asleep. The child, who was struck in the neck, was treated at nearby Vidant Medical Center where he is expected to recover. Surveillance video from a neighbor's home showed a white sedan passing by the house before shots were fired. Police chief Robert Hassle responded by calling for the formation of a new multi-agency law enforcement task force to specifically focus on gang related violent crimes.
Ft. Bragg Paratroopers Injured After Missing Their Landing
(Ft. Bragg, NC) -- An investigation is underway into an incident in which two Ft. Bragg paratroopers were injured after they missed their intended drop zone target. Instead, they landed in a neighborhood near the military installation. A Ft. Bragg spokesperson said one soldier was hospitalized with critical injuries. The other was treated at the scene and released. The paratroopers are members of the 3rd Special Forces Group.
Two Beach Houses Collapse Into The Ocean On Same Day In The Outer Banks
(Outer Banks, NC) -- Authorities in the Outer Banks report two beachfront houses collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday. Both wooden structures on stilts were located in the Rodanthe community along Ocean Drive. The EMA says strong waves, high wind and sand erosion were to blame. Fortunately. the houses were unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries.
Duke Student Commencement Speaker Apologizes For Apparent Plagiarism
(Durham, NC) -- Duke University officials have launched an investigation into allegations that a graduation speech given Sunday by a student speaker, may have been plagiarized. According to the Duke Chronicle, the speech given by Priya Parkash at commencement exercises for the class of 2022, sounded eerily like a speech delivered at Harvard University in 2014 by Sarah Abushaar. Parkash released a statement late Tuesday night apologizing and taking full responsibility for the oversight.
Canes Go Up 3-2 Over Bruins In Game Five Of Playoffs
(Raleigh, NC) -- At the PNC Arena Tuesday night, the Carolina Hurricanes went up three-games to-two with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins in game five of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Led by goalie Antti Raanta, who had 34-saves and rookie Seth Jarvis, who scored twice, the Canes had a much cleaner performance than their two penalty-riddled outings in Boston. Carolina will try and advance to the second round of the playoffs when the two teams meet again for game 6 in Boston tomorrow night.